A glance through related links on the definition of etiquette on Google would reveal that there are certain polite manners/conducts/behaviours that one can exhibit in social or work environment to win the admiration of colleagues. You are not being fake, it’s just an attitude that shows respect of other people’s choice, belief and opinions. The points of focus are etiquettes legal practitioners should practice in law offices. The standard of office should not be the consideration to exhibit proper office etiquette; rather, the office etiquette should contribute to the improvement of the standard of the law office. Respect a fellow colleague’s work station/space. Some lawyers innocently invade the workstations of other colleagues, not being aware of how such acts impede productivity at the law office. When colleagues leave their computer on, don’t turn it off without their consent. Don’t return case files on colleagues desk to the file cabinet without them knowing, follow office procedures on storage of case files and law reports. Don’t arrange a colleagues desk without their permission even if you feel it is looking disorganised or tattered. Share ideas and accept constructive criticism. Apart from the benefits attached to sharing ideas, constructive criticism makes the idea better. A third eye might see possible solutions to problems you didn’t even conceive. That aside, keeping quiet might stall problem solving in the law office. A lawyer who shies away from sharing ideas when case files are discussed, might probably have the solution everyone is looking for, thereby denying the office part of the value you ought to provide. Real gentlemen treat the receptionist with the same respect as the boss. Whether a fellow employee is learned or not, or earns lesser than you, that doesn’t mean they should be treated as a lesser person. Try not to transfer aggression of workload and pressure at the office on the support staff. Try to make use of the word ‘please’ when giving a task, the use of the word ‘please’ doesn’t reduce authority. Minimize communication about home and personal life at the work place since ideally conversations in the work place ought to be work related. While it is quite a difficult task to seat side by side someone from 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday without being tempted to gist personal stuff, it should however be kept to the barest minimum. Leave the gossip to after working hours. If you want to fraternize, do that on a personal level outside the four walls of the office, a break lunch together can suffice if you ask me. Cultivate the habit of listening first before giving an opinion, it is my considered opinion, that listening first to what others have to say gives the listener a better guide on what to say or not to say. However, there is the danger as expressed by my learned friend, Jerome Iroagalachi, Esq “if everyone listens, who would do the talking?” No one is perfect as we are infallible because we are humans; we all have our faults and weaknesses, likewise strengths and strong points. Colleagues working together should avoid letting the weaknesses of each other affect the professional productivity of the work place. In the same vein, a lawyer ought not to let his weaknesses affect the productivity of the work place, like not keeping to appointments, not giving feedback on task, or not following up on tasks. It goes without saying that an employee ought to follow instructions given by the ‘Oga at the top’. It is better to air a view or opinion on an instruction given, than to disobey based on dissatisfaction. Disobedience can only be viewed as insubordination and nothing else. Rather, find diplomatic ways of telling the boss your opinion on a particular task to get their reasons why the task should be done as instructed. Respect is reciprocal, office etiquettes avails lawyers an opportunity to win the respect and admiration of fellow colleagues and employees alike. Godspeed! Do send your comment(s), observation(s) and recommendation(s) to danielbulusson@gmail.com, follow on twitter @bulussdan or visit www.facebook.com/YoungLawyersColumnm ]]>